Thursday, November 30, 2023

Build A Gift is this Saturday, December 2, from 10 a.m. until noon.

Be part of the Set up crew on Friday, December 1.

Come serve at a craft or gift wrap table, or as a greeter, or on the clean up crew on Saturday, 12/2 December 2.

Donations of baked goods for the snack table are welcome. (items you can pick up and eat without a fork please.

Poinsettia Orders are due Monday, December 4!

You are welcome to order one or more poinsettias in honor or memory of a loved one for display in the sanctuary beginning December 17 through Christmas Eve. The cost is $7.00 per plant. You may order online at this link: 2023 Poinsettia Order Form or via the Communication Card during Sunday worship.

Payment may be made online or via the offering on Sundays. Be sure to note that the payment is for poinsettias

The Church and Community potluck is this Sunday, December 3, at 12:15. Bring a dish to share or a topic for conversation!

This Sunday is Communion Sunday

Communion elements for Sunday, December 3 worship are in the little library off Flora Avenue.

Dear Friends,

When I served as a student pastor at First UMC in Webster Groves, one of the members and I shared a small world story. The First Webster member’s brother was a member of, Vermilion United Methodist Church, the church my husband, Steve, grew up in.

Even though this was a good point of connection, what I remember most about this wonderful man was his dedication to showing up for worship. A few years prior he had had a stroke that impacted the left side of his body. He could not use his left arm and had limited ability to move his left leg. Getting from his house to the car, then into the church took a lot of time and seemingly a lot of effort. But he was at church almost every Sunday without fail.

He never said a lot, but his presence spoke volumes. By simply showing up, he testified to his faith and to the power of being present as part of a faith community. By simply showing up, he was a source of encouragement for me, and most likely for others.

During Advent this year we will be celebrating the “The Gift of Being Present.” The gift of God’s presence with us as the baby Jesus; the gift of being present with God through worship and prayer, and the gift of being present with others.

The gift of showing up—being present is so very often the very best present we can give! Simply being present with someone can bring them hope, peace, joy, and love—the priceless gifts we celebrate as we light the candles on the Advent wreath.

This Advent sermon series is a special one! I hope you will share the gift of your presence with others during worship this Advent and Christmas season. I have no doubt that by simply showing up, you will be a source of hope and encouragement for someone in the room.

See you on Sunday!

God’s grace and peace be with you,

Pastor Kim

Advent Events are Coming Up. Mark your Calendars!

Friday, December 1— 10 a.m.Set up Day for Build A Gift

Saturday, December 2—Build A Gift. 10 a.m. – 12 noon Register your child(ren) ages 3 – 12 today! Click on this link: Build A Gift

Sunday, December 3—First Sunday in Advent.

9:45 a.m. Pageant rehearsal for children and youth

12:15 Church and Community Potluck

Tuesday, Dec. 5 Early release Kids Club

Sunday, Dec. 10—Second Sunday in Advent

9:45 a.m. Children and youth prepare for pageant.

11:00 a.m. Christmas Pageant is presented during Worship

Sunday, December 17—Third Sunday in Advent

9:45 a.m. Children’s Sunday School Party

Coffee with Pastor Kim

Thursday, December 21, 5 – 6:30 p.m. Welcome Winter Community Unity Dinner

Sunday, December 24—11 a.m. worship Fourth Sunday in Advent

5 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight and Communion Service

"Blessed are they who see Christmas through the eyes of a child."

– Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, Belleville, IL

The Men's Choir is working on a Christmas anthem to be sung in church Sunday, December 17^th. We are rehearsing on Thursdays at 6:20pm in the choir room on the 3^rd Floor - starting on 11/30, 12/7 and 12/14, and invite the men in our congregation who enjoy singing to join the group on these practice dates and 12/17/23. They’re working on an interesting and beautiful anthem. It’s a fun group, would love to see you!

Called to lead outside the local congregation?

The Missouri Annual Conference is committed to excellent and diverse leadership in all areas. In order for the Nominations Committee to make selections for the Conference leadership, nominees must be in the Conference leadership pool. The Nominations committee relies on your nominations of both laity and clergy to fill Conference leadership positions. Click on this link to learn more about leadership at the conference level and/or to nominate yourself or someone you know at www.moumethodist.org/nominate

It's not too LATE to be a part of the Advent Small Group Study

Our focus for Advent this year is on “The Gift of Being Present”. After all, that’s what Christmas is about: celebrating the presence of God with us in the form of Jesus.

You are invited to be part of a 4 week Advent small group study which focuses on the book Right Here, Right Now: The Practice of Christian Mindfulness by Amy Oden.

Small groups will meet weekly Sunday mornings at 9:45 with the Adult Conversation Class Or Tuesday, November 28 and December 5, 12, and 19 at 7 p.m. at the church.. Sign up for the Tuesday group at this link: Tuesday Advent Small Group (Please note, a minimum of five people is needed for the Tuesday for a class to form.) Books will be available at the church.

**NEW DATES TO THE CALENDAR ARE IN GREEN

**Thursday, November 30

9:00 a.m. Second Time Around Shop

6:00 p.m. Praise Band Practice

7:00 p.m. Choir Practice

** Friday, December 1

10:00 a.m. Set up for Build-A-Gift

** Saturday, December 2

10:00 a.m. - Build-A-Gift

10:30 a.m. - Women's AA Meeting

**Sunday, December 3

9:00 a.m. Prayer with Pastor Kim

9:45 a.m - .ADULT DISCUSSION GROUP

9:45 a.m. Children's Sunday School

Pageant Practice

11:00 a.m - Worship - In-Person and

online Link: maplewoodumc.org

12:15 - Church and Community Potluck

**Tuesday, December 5

1 p.m. Prayer time via Zoom.

Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3745711178pwd=dktsaWkwNlNhVjRmOHpjTFNqR1dqQT09 Meeting ID: 374 571 1178

Passcode: 674257

4;30 p.m. Cub Scouts

7:00 p.m. Book Study

**Wednesday, December 6

6:00 p.m. Cub Scouts

**Thursday, December 7

9:00 a.m. Second Time Around Shop

6:00 p.m. Praise Band Practice

7:00 p.m. Choir Practice

To see the entire calendar - click below https://73855810.view-events.com

Coming in January - Small group study with Suzanne and Jan, January 9 and 16. We will read Ann Lamont's Stitches. We will meet at the church at 7 p.m. There is a sign up sheet on the easel at the back of the Sanctuary.

Prayers for...

...Skip Watkins who had knee replacement surgery Wednesday.

...Lesley, Jocelyn, Milo and Hugo who will be at a memorial service for Leslie Holloman's brother, Chris, in Washington State this Sat., Nov. 18th and a celebration of life on Sun. Nov. 19th.

...All the strife in Israel, Gaza and Ukraine

...Prayers for Diana and Gary Brink. Gary, Amy Cordeal’s brother-in-law, who is undergoing tests for health concerns.

...Mary Kunce for recovery from surgery.

...Linda Vawter's sister, Shari, for recovery from injuries from a fall

...Linda Vawter's nephew Allen for continued healing after a cardiac event

Continuing prayers for ...

...Skip Reynolds, health concerns.

...Shay Blackwell - for relief of nerve pain

...Daniel White - health concerns

... Nina Berry - for Chad to be happy and healthy.

...Jerry Chulick, health concerns.

A Note of Gratitude...

For everyone who stayed after worship service on Sunday, November 26, to help with decorating the sanctuary for Advent/Christmas! Please join me in thanking these folks for sharing their gifts of time, talent, and service: Jerry Blackwell, Colette Cummings, Ty Moody, Dave Phelps, Betty Rhodes, Barb Riney, Julia Schaffner, Kim Shirar, Barb and Ray Stanford, and Steve and Lis Wall-Smith. If I somehow overlooked someone, my apologies. From my heart, thank you all.

Charlotte Phelps